Beitzah 35 - October 5, 29 Tishrei

This week's learning is sponsored by Eliana Gurfinkiel in memory of her grandmother, Alice Djamila Ventura Bat Moshe and Leah, who passed away this past December. She never had a chance to learn about her Jewish roots, not even talking about Torah. I'm sure that in the Olam Haemet she's delighted that her granddaughters learn Torah and do mitzvot in her honour. Her neshama should have an Aliyah." And today's daf is sponsored for a refuah shleima for Chaya Sara bat Raitza. Mar Zutra tried to prove from our Mishnah (from Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion) Rav Nachman’s response to Rava that designating something to eat on Shabbat brings with it an obligation to tithe the produce even if the produce is not completely ready (gmar melacha). The Gemara rejected his proof and claimed that Rabbi Eliezer in the Mishna implied that the produce must be tithed not due to Shabbat but due to the person’s statement indicated he/she planned to eat the produce. If so, the Gemara questions it as it is inconsistent with another statement of Rabbi Eliezer. Thus rejecting the difficulty against Mar Zutra and reinstating his proof for Rav Nachman. Rabbi Shimi Bar Ashi rejects Mar Zutra proof in a different way as he shows that Rabbi Eliezer disagreed with the rabbis concerning a similar issue – whether separating truma before gmar melacha would obligate one. And since the rabbis disagree there, they must disagree here, in which case we can’t learn halacha from Rabbi Eliezer. The Gemara tries to prove Rav Nachman’s answer from the words of the rabbis in the Mishnah, however, this too is rejected. The Gemara brings a contradiction to Mar Zutra’s understanding of Rabbi Eliezer in the Mishnah (that Shabbat brings with it an obligation to tithe the produce even if there isn’t gmar melacha) from Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion in a braita but e contradiction is resolved. Ravin brings the opinion of Rabbi Yochanan, who disagrees with Rav Nachman, and says that Shabbat, truma, courtyard, and a sale do not obligate one to tithe one’s produce if it is not at the stage of gmar melacha. The Gemara explains why Rabbi Yochanan had to refer to each category - in each matter he came to disagree with a certain opinion. The Gemara brings the opinion on which he disagrees on each subject. Chapter five begins with actions that are allowed to be performed on a Yom Tov even though it is burdensome work, as to avoid financial loss, such as lowering fruits through the chimney from the rains. The Gemara discusses different traditions regarding what is the first word in the Mishnah and proves that all possibilities can work. How much can be lowered through a chimney? Rabbi Yochanan derived it from Maseachet Shabbat – how many boxes can be removed from a storage house to make room for guests or a Beit Midrash.  But the Gemara raises several possibilities to distinguish between the cases – some suggest being stricter on Yom Tov and some more lenient.